After going on a few rides lately where there has been a few flat tyres, and people not really having the skills to fix the problem, me included, i decided that it was time to improve my tyre and tube changing and fixing skills.
The last thing i want is to stand around while someone else fixes my bike.
I hit the net and did some shopping at Torpedo7 on wednesday last week, and bought some things to make tyre changes in the shed a little easier.
I got this tyre changing stand on sale for $40
http://www.torpedo7.com.au/products/T7TOTNNTC/title/torpedo7-portable-tyre-changer-with-bead-breakerThese tyre spoons for $10
http://www.torpedo7.com.au/products/T7TO4N0TL/title/torpedo7-260mm-tyre-lever-set---2pcAnd this long lever for $7
http://www.torpedo7.com.au/products/T7TO4NNTL/title/torpedo7-tyre-lever---350mm-twin-tipThey and some other things turned up yesterday morning, and after assembling the stand i was keen to have a go at changing a tyre.
Looking at the front tyre on my 310 it had plenty of life left in it, but i've never really liked Bridgestone front tyres as i feel they have no mid corner grip, so it was decided to replace it with a Michellin S12 my favourite front tyre, and all i would do to the rear Bridgestone 404 was turn it around.
I went down to AMX in Bayswater and purchased a S12 front for $78 and noticed that S12 rears were $98 which i thought were pretty good prices.
When i got home and before getting stuck in i searched youtube for a vid on changing tyres and found this, i watched a few and this was by far the best.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzGsrsUGMw4After watching that a couple of times it was time to hit the shed and get my hands dirty.
Getting the tube out was easy and getting the tyre off the rim took a little more effort than the vid but it came off without to much swearing.
The inside of the rim was filthy so i cleaned it up as best i could, the rim tape was knackered so that was replaced with black electrical tape and the rim lock was cleaned up.
Time to fit the new tyre, while i was removing the old tyre the new one was in the sun to warm up and it went on the rim fairly easily, in with the tube, the valve went in easily using the method in the video, now to put the tyre onto the rim. With plenty of lubrication and small bites, a bit of muscle and plenty of sweat the new tyre was installed!!
Now for the moment of truth! had i pinched the tube
i pumped the tube up to 60 psi to seat the bead so i'm fairly certain the tube wasn't pinched!!!
I did up the rim lock put the wheel back in the bike and sat back with a satisfied grin on my face looking at the back tyre
Looking at the rear tyre i thought it had a couple more rides in the direction it was going so no need to rotate it, but then i thought just rotate it you need the practice.
So it was back to youtube to watch the rear tyre changing vid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqiSV4WZb-cSo it was off with the back wheel and start the process of removing the tyre.
Breaking the bead was easy and so was removing the tube, and what surprised me was that i actually got the rear tyre off easier than the front!!
Looking at the inside of the tyre the strings on one side of the casing had come out of the mould, so after a lot of indecisiveness i decided to ditch the rear and buy a new one. By that time AMX was nearly closed so i would have to wait till the morning to get a new rear tyre. So i cleaned up the rim and replaced the rim tape with electrical tape and cleaned up the rim lock.
Went down to AMX this morning and bought an S12 rear then come home to install it.
i got the tyre on the rim easy enough, didn't worry about putting it in the sun for a while, i was fiddling about trying to get the valve through the hole so i gave up and used the valve puller instead, easy.
With plenty of WD40 on the tyre and with small bites the rear tyre was on!!
again waiting for the moment of truth, the tyre was inflated to 60 psi and the bead seated on the rim!!!
Happy Days, i must have improved my technique as i got the rear on easier than the front, and typing all this has taken me longer than putting the tyre on.
In summary it really isn't that hard.
*Take your time and have the right tools
*Lubrication is essential
*small bites and don't take levers past centre
*Patience, if your having trouble go back to the vid ( if you're at home )
*Have a go what's the worst that can happen
*Tyre installation is much easier without the rim tape holding the rim lock against the rim.
No more having the shop fit the tyres for me, the more i do it the easier it will become and i think it's a skill all riders should have.
